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Cargo theft has skyrocketed by 1,500% since 2021, costing the supply chain $35 billion annually and raising prices for consumers

Washington – San Antonio trucking company owner and ���ϲ����� member Adam Blanchard was on Capitol Hill today to about rising incidents of cargo theft.  

Senators on the subcommittee recently launched a hearing to investigate this proliferating criminal enterprise that is costing the supply chain up to $35 billion annually and raising consumer prices.  Strategic theft has risen 1,500% since the first quarter of 2021, and the average value per theft is over $200,000.  Blanchard’s business has been victimized multiple times by cargo thieves.  He has also had to contend with complex identity scams by criminals impersonating his business to divert shipments and steal from other motor carriers.  

Blanchard founded Double Diamond Transport and a brokerage, Tanager Logistics, in 2014 with one truck.  Today, he operates about 90 trucks.  His business has created dozens of good jobs and has been recognized by Inc. Series 5000 as one of the fastest-growing private companies in San Antonio.

“Like most small business owners, we faced daily challenges, yet we were blessed with an exceptional team.  Together, we persevered and built a company that everyone in our organization can be proud of,” said Adam Blanchard, co-founder and CEO of Double Diamond Transport and Tanager Logistics.  “About a year ago, our American Dream turned into a nightmare when some unscrupulous criminals stole our identity.  By capitalizing on our good name, they tarnished the sterling reputation we had spent a decade to earn.”

Cargo theft comes in many forms, whether it is imitating a legitimate company, pilfering goods over time, breaking into a parked tractor-trailer, double-brokering fraud, or holding freight hostage.  Blanchard described to Senators how sophisticated criminals created a fake Tanager Logistics—even adding their bogus company to FMCSA’s SAFER website—and brokered loads to unsuspecting carriers.  One shipment of energy drinks worth over six figures was rerouted over 1,000 miles from its intended destination.  

Blanchard’s company—the real Tanager Logistics—played whack-a-mole and suffered reputational damage while the scammers pocketed the money.  When Blanchard repeatedly contacted the authorities, however, the response he received was indifference.  Even when he informed FMCSA about , the agency refused to remove the imposter.

“We sought to report these crimes, but kept hitting dead ends with federal, state, and local law enforcement; federal regulators; and insurance,” Blanchard said.  “We did our due diligence, but the message was clear: you are on your own.”

Due to the complex, multi-jurisdictional nature of these crimes, only the federal government has the resources and technical capabilities to take down organized theft groups.  Blanchard made several recommendations to Senators on solutions they could pursue immediately: 

• Direct FMCSA to remove illegitimate carriers from their official website.

• Pass the Safeguarding Our Supply Chains Act, which would establish a federal task force dedicated to cargo theft.  

• Pass the Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Act, which would strengthen penalties against bad actors and protect consumers.

“Currently, criminals view trucking as a low-risk, high-reward target.  We must invert that calculus,” Blanchard said.  “Trucking is a tough business, and we have no shortage of grit and determination.  But our industry is simply not equipped to deal with organized theft groups on our own… Congress must provide agency guidance and resources to combat criminals who are exploiting small businesses that families spent years, decades, or even generations to build.”